A local doctor has had his privilege to prescribe controlled substances suspended by the Rhode Island Department of health as of Aug. 30.

The department issued a summary suspension on Aug. 29 after an investigative committee found that an investigation into Dr. Stephen Petteruti’s practice on Centerville Road uncovered evidence of his prescribing controlled substances without adhering to accepted professional standards of care and had a pattern of “prescribing narcotics without medical records” and “without performing an examination of the patient” or maintaining proper medical records in violation of Rhode Island General Laws 5-37-5.1 (19) and (26). The department said the suspension would stay in effect until further notice from the Department of Health.

Dr. Petteruti may continue to see patients at his 250 Centerville Rd. practice but will have no authority to prescribe controlled substances. The notification sent to Petteruti on Aug. 30 informs him he is entitled to a hearing to appeal the ruling.